MV Barima tragedy: “Let the CoI work” – President Ali

President Dr Irfaan Ali says that the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) established to probe the MV Barima tragedy will determine what actions the Government will take.
His remarks come as calls mount for Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, whose office oversees the maritime sector, to be removed from office following the deadly ferry accident.
Asked to respond to calls for the minister to be sent on leave, the president told reporters on Thursday, “There is a CoI that I’ve established that is independent. And let the CoI work.”
On July 18, the MV Barima capsized and sank off the Essequibo Coast while en route to Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini), with 179 people onboard. While 76 persons survived the horrific boat accident, 73 have been confirmed dead, and another 30 are still missing.
While three Transport and Harbours Department (THD) employees have been charged over the deadly MV Barima tragedy, the Government has established a Commission of Inquiry.

Last Friday, the five-member Commission was sworn in to probe the circumstances surrounding the ferry accident, which is considered to be the worst maritime disaster in the Caribbean region.
Justice Godfrey Phillip Smith of Belize, a CARICOM High-Level Representative for Law and Criminal Justice and an ad hoc justice of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal, will lead the inquiry as its chairman.
The other four Commissioners are Captain Hamada Fouda, a senior maritime surveyor and compliance auditor with the Maritime Authority of Jamaica; Nyree Dawn Alfonso, an attorney-at-law with expertise in admiralty and maritime law in Trinidad and Tobago; Dr Andrzej Jasionowski of Poland, a naval architect and marine engineer who has advised on investigations into several major maritime disasters; and Rear Admiral (Retired) Hayden Pritchard, a maritime professional with decades of experience in maritime operations and maritime security from Trinidad and Tobago.
At the swearing-in ceremony, President Ali explained that the Commission has been given a broad mandate to examine every relevant aspect of the disaster. It will also determine the facts surrounding the sinking and identify its causes and contributing factors.

The COI will also assess compliance with maritime laws and operational standards and review the effectiveness of the search, among other areas.
“The families who have suffered unimaginable loss await these answers. Future generations deserve the assurance that every lesson that can be learned from this tragedy will indeed be learned,” the Head of State noted.
Emphasising the commission’s independence, President Ali said its composition reflects the highest standards of professionalism and impartiality. He further stated that the commissioners collectively possess internationally recognized expertise in law, marine engineering, maritime operations, maritime regulation, and disaster investigations, adding that their experience will enhance the credibility and thoroughness of the inquiry.
The Guyanese Leader also assured the Commissioners that the Government will provide all administrative, technical, financial, and logistical support required to enable a comprehensive and independent investigation.
In addition to the CoI, President Ali has also set up a technical team to conduct a comprehensive audit of the local maritime sector. He has rolled out a series of other welfare initiatives to support the survivors and families of the victims of this tragedy, including the HEART Initiative, which he says will be a long-term support programme.
Nevertheless, President Ali’s request on Thursday for the CoI to be conducted came as he was leaving a public consultation on the Model Village initiative at the Melanie Damishana Nursery School on the East Coast of Demerara.
However, outside the venue, a small crowd protested, calling for Minister Edghill to be removed from office over the MV Barima tragedy. They were also protesting against the charges laid against one of the crew members, Captain Kevin Price, who also hails from Melanie.
Captain Price, along with Chief Mate Rondell Dwayne Roberts, who were operating the vessel when it sank, subsequently tested positive for marijuana after they were rescued. The duo, along with THD’s Goods Superintendent Delon Granderson, were slapped with murder charges on July 28 and remanded to prison.
Several members of the Parliamentary Opposition also joined the protest and even got into a standoff with Government officials. Moreover, some protesters clashed with the police after attempting to cross a barricaded area outside the school where the presidential engagement was being held.
In fact, over the past week, the Opposition has been leading protests outside a series of Government meetings across the country. On Wednesday, President Ali was in several communities in Region One, where he invited a handful of supporters to participate in the meetings and have their concerns addressed.
One protester at Mathew’s Ridge accepted the Head of State’s invitation and subsequently expressed satisfaction that his concerns were being addressed by the Government.